Motorized support device for piping and the like



. Sept. 4, 1962 L. s[ suozzo 3,052,438

MOTORIZED SUPPORT DEVICE FOR PIPING AND THE LIKE Filed May 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7010,40 leopard I fuozzo BY M A TTORNE V MOTORIZED SUP-PORT DEVICE FORPIPING AND THE LIKE Filed May 15, 1961 L. S. SUOZZO Sept. 4, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR. [aware/5. fuozzo United States Patent Ofiice 3,@Z,i38 Patented Sept. 4, 1962 3,052,438 MOTORIZED SUPPORT DEVICE FOR PIPH'JG AND Til-E LliKlE Leonard Ei-noaao, Hackensacir, NJ. (50 Church St, New York 7, N.Y.) Filed May 15, 1961, Ser. No. 110,013 18 Claims. (Cl. 248-58) This invention relates to the art of support devices and, more particularly, to an improved motorized support device for various types of loads, including piping and the like. The invention pertains, in one of its more specific aspects, to an improved and simplified motorized support device which is adapted to subject a load to a constant supporting force and, at the same time, permit vertical movement of the load.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a motorized support device having improved and simplified features of construction and design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a motor ized support device for supporting a suspended load, the device being adapted to adjust itself automatically in response to variations in a condition of the load.

The invention has for another object the provision of a support device in which changes in the force exerted by a load, that is supported by the device, are sensed by and translated into changes in the relative position of resilient means and associated means so as to actuate other means in a manner to compensate for predetermined changes in the force.

A further object of the invention is to provide a motorized support device including a support unit, a motor carried by the support unit, a load-carrying unit cooperatively associated with the motor and adapted to be coupled to a load, and improved load-sensing and control apparatus for placing the motor into and out of active service whereby to vary the effective length of the loadcarrying unit, as required by changes in the force exerted by the load.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a support device of the character indicated that is simple in design; that is sturdy and durable in construction; that is reasonable in manufacturing, installation and maintenance costs; and that is dependable and efficient in operation.

The foregoing objects and other objects, together with the advantages of the invention, will be readily understood by persons trained in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings which describe and illustrate a preferred and recommended form of support device of this invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. I is a view in front elevation of a motorized support device constructed in accordance with the invention, the front cover plate being omitted and certain parts being broken away for better illustration of other parts;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along staggered line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, I have illustrated therein a housing or casing H which constitutes a support unit and which includes a frame 5 consisting of parallel top and bottom walls 6 and 7, respectively, and a pair of parallel side walls 8. The top Wall is joined to the side Walls by weldments 10 and the bottom wall is joined to the side wall by weldments 11 whereby to obtain a rigid, unitary frame structure. The housing also includes a front cover plate 12 and a rear cover plate 13 which are removably attached to the frame by corresponding screws 14. Top wall 6 is provided with an opening 15 that is aligned with an opening 16 in bottom wall 7. One of the side walls 8 has a vertical slot 17 and carries an L-shaped stop member 18. A pair of spaced parallel plates 20 are secured to and depend from the top wall.

Positioned within the housing is a first lever L-1, in the form of a narrow, elongated, open frame which consists of a pair of parallel side members 21, a pair of end members 22 and 23 and a pair of spaced, transverse rods 24 to provide requisite stiffness. A combined switch actuator and indicator pointer 25 is affixed to lever member 23 and projects through and beyond Wall opening 17. Lever side members 21 are formed with aligned concave recesses 26 in which a cylindrical pin 27 is mounted. This pin is preferably affixed to the lever in any desired manner known to the art to insure retention thereon. Side members 21 are also formed with aligned, elongated rectilinear slots 28 and aligned arcuate slots 29. One of the side members carries a load adjustment scale 30 having openings corresponding to and aligned with slots 28 and 29. This scale has graduations 31. Each side member 21 carries an outwardly projecting stub shaft 32. These shafts are coaxial.

The device of this invention is equipped with a load adjustment means which will now be described having reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. This means includes a bolt 33 which extends through an opening in lever end member 22 and which carries a lock nut 34 that bears against the inner face of that end member. Bolt 33 engages a tap in a slide block 35 which is positioned between lever side members 21 and which is provided with a pin 36 that registers with slots 28 and is slidable therealong. One end of pin 36 is formed with an indicator 37 that cooperates with graduations 31 to indicate the load setting. Lcver L-1 is provided with a pair of outwardly extending coaxial pins 38 which register with corresponding arcuate slot 29 to permit tilting or pivotal movement of that lever about the axis of pin 36.

A second lever L-Z forms a pivotal connection with shafts 32 of lever L-l. Lever L-2, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, is of inverted U-shape and consists of a web 40 having a central tapped through opening and a pair of arms 4-1, each of which has an opening 42 for reception of a corresponding shaft 32. Lever I.r2 is connected to a bracket B by means of an eye bolt 43. The eye bolt has a threaded shank 44 which extends through the tapped opening in web 40 and is provided with a locking nut 45. This nut may be permanently secured to shank 44 by a weldment 46.

Bracket B consists of a plate 47 having a plurality of openings 48 and a pair of depending parallel arms 49. The bracket is adapted to be secured to an overhead beam or other supporting structure by means of bolts (not shown) which extend through openings 48. A pin 50 is aflixed to the bracket arms and extends through the opening defined by eye bolt 43. It will be observed that the eye bolt and the parts connected thereto are pivotal about the axis of pin 50.

Positioned within the housing in depending relation to its top Wall 6 is a load-sensing cell C which comprises a housing 51, a plurality of coaxial disc springs 52 and a plunger 53 which bears against the lowermost disc spring. The plunger projects through and below a central opening in the bottom wall of housing 51 and is rec-iprocable along a vertical path. The plunger has a transverse bottom groove 54 for reception of the upper portion of pin 27. Load-sensing cell C is similar in general construction, operation and function to the disc spring arrangement disclosed in my Patent No. 2,939,663, granted June 7, 1960, for Constant Support Device, to which reference may be had for further details. At the time cell C is assembled, the arrangement of disc springs 52 is precompressed so as to operate within the constant force range of the individual disc springs.

The illustrated form of the invention contemplates the provision of adjustable stop means to limit pivotal movement of lever L-l about the axis of pivot pin 36 in either direction and thereby prevent damage to combined switch actuator and indicator pointer 25 and parts associated therewith. The adjustable stop means also prevents excessive overloading of the disc springs in use. The illustrated stop means includes a pair of screws 55 and 56 which are carried by lever L-ll. It will be noted that screw 55 engages the bottom wall of housing 51 to limit pivotal movement of lever L-l in a clockwise direction about the axis of pin 36 while screw 56 engages stop member 18 to limit counter-clockwise pivotal movement of this lever about the axis of pin 36.

A screw jack unit I includes a housing 57 which is mounted on support bars 6%} within housing H and is secured thereto by screws 61. Housing 57 contains conventional gearing (not shown) for imparting combined rotary and vertical movement to a screw 62 in response to rotary movement of a driven shaft 63. Screw 62 extends through bottom wall opening 16 and is adapted to be connected to a load through the medium of a coupling device 65 and a rod 66. Screw 62, coupling device 65 and rod 66 constitute a load-carrying unit. These parts are so constructed and arranged that operation of screw 62 imparts vertical movement only to rod 66. It will be appreciated from an examination of FIG. 1 that the effective length of the loadcarrying unit may be varied by operating jack unit I.

Shaft 63 is adapted to be driven by a combined electric motor and reducing gear unit M. The electric motor component of unit M may be of any suitable known reversible type and is adapted to be connected to a proper source of electric energy supply (not shown). Unit M is secured to housing bottom wall 7 by screws 67 and includes a rotary drive shaft 68 which is connected to driven shaft 63 by a coupling unit 70. The coupling unit comprises a first coupling member 71 that is fixedly secured to driven shaft 63 and a second coupling member 72 which is rotatable with and slidable along drive shaft 68 to permit engagement with or disengagement from coupling member 71, as desired. The end of driven shaft 63 which is remote from coupling unit 70 carries an emergency attachment 73 having a head 74. Attachment 73 and, therefore, shaft 63 may be rotated with the aid of a suitable tool that engages head 74, preferably after coupling members 71 and 72 are disconnected from each other. This enables manual operation of screw 62 and raising or lowering of the load-carrying unit and the load in an emergency, such as, for example, power failure to unit M.

A switch casing 75 is mounted on housing side wall 8 as shown in FIG. 1 and is provided with a transparent window 76 to permit observation of a scale 77 having graduations which indicate the angular position of combined switch actuator and pointer 25. Positioned within casing 75 is a pair of spaced electric switches, namely an upper switch S1 and a lower switch 8-2. Switch S-l includes a push button 73 and a pair of electric leads 79. Switch S2 includes a like push button 80 and electric leads 81. Leads 79 and 81 are adapted to be connected to the motor unit M. The switch buttons are aligned and are disposed in the path of travel of combined switch actuator and pointer 25. Both switches are normally open. Predetermined pivotal movement of lever L-l in a clockwise direction about the axis of pin 36, as viewed in FIG. 1, will cause combined actuator and pointer 25 to engage and actuate push button 78, thereby closing switch 8-]. and placing motor unit M into active service so as to rotate drive shaft 68 in one direction. Predetermined counterclockwise pivotal movement of lever L-l about the axis of pin 36 will cause combined actuator and pointer 25 to engage and actuator push button 80 thereby closing switch S-2 and placing unit M into active service so as to rotate the drive shaft in a reverse direction. It will be appreciated that unit M is out of active service when combined actuator and pointer 25 is not in engagement with either of the push buttons.

For the purpose of outlining the operation of the herein described form of the invention, it is first assumed that the illustrated device is mounted in suspended relation to an overhead beam through the medium of bracket B and bolts (not shown) which extend through openings 48; that a load, such as piping, is connected to rod 66; that unit M is connected to its source of electric energy supply; and that the parts are in the relative position shown in FIG. 1. With the parts in this relative position, combined switch actuator and pointer 25 is spaced from both push buttons 7 8 and 8t), switches 8-1 and S2 are both in their normal, open position and unit M is out of active service. The force exerted by the load is transmitted through the loadcarrying unit (rod 66, coupling device and screw 62), through housing 57 of jack unit J, through housing frame 5, through plates 20, through pivot pin 36, through lever L-l and through pin 27 and plunger 53 to disc springs 52 of load-sensing cell C. Changes in the force exerted by the load are sensed by disc springs 52 and are translated into corresponding changes in the vertical position of plunger 53. This results in corresponding changes in the angular position of lever L1 relative to the axis of pivot pin 36. If the force exerted by the load increases a predetermined amount, disc springs 52 are compressed and plunger 53 moves upwardly to an extent permitting clockwise pivotal movement of lever L-ll about the axis of pin 36 and engagement of combined actuator and pointer 25 with push button 78 to close switch S1. and place unit M into active service. This causes shafts 68 and 63 to rotate in a direction to impart downward movement to the load-carrying unit and the load, thereby decreasing the force on the disc springs, and enables lever L1 to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction, allowing switch Sll to reopen so as to place unit M out of service. If the force exerted by the load decreases a predetermined amount, disc springs 52 are expanded and plunger 53 moves downwardly to an extent permitting counter-clockwise pivotal movement of lever L-l about the axis of pin 36 and engagement of combined actuator and pointer 25 with push button 86 to close switch S2 and again place unit M into active service. This causes shafts 63 and 63 to rotate in a reverse direction to impart upward movement to the loadcarrying unit and the load, thereby increasing the force on the disc springs, and enables lever L-l to pivot in a clockwise direction, allowing switch 5-2 to reopen so as to place unit M out of active service.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation, objects and advantages of my present invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art, without further description. It is to be clearly understood, however, that various changes in the construction described above and illustrated in the drawings may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, it being intended that all matter contained in the description or shown in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a support unit, a load-carrying unit carried by the support unit and adapted to be coupled to a load, a first lever connected to and movable relative to the support unit about a first pivotal axis, a second lever connected to and movable relative to the first lever about a second pivotal axis, said second lever being engageable by a supporting structure and adapted to be subjected to the force exerted by the load, means carried by the support unit and adapted to be subjected to said force, said means including a member engaged by the first lever and movable in opposite directions in response to corresponding movement of the first lever about the first pivotal axis, control means operable in response to predetermined movement of the first lever in at least one direction about the first pivotal axis, and means responsive to operation of the control means for varying the effective length of the load-carrying unit.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the first-rnentioned means is resilient.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the member is reciprocable.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the first lever is rockable relative to the member.

5. In a device of the character described, a support unit a load-carrying unit carried by the support unit and adapted to be coupled to a load, a first lever connected to and movable relative to the support unit about a first pivotal axis, a second lever connected to and movable relative to the first lever about a second pivotal axis, said second lever being engageable by a supporting structure and adapted to be subjected to the force exerted by the load, resilient means carried by and adapted to be subjected to and oppose said force, said resilient means including a member engaged by the first lever and movable in opposite directions in response to corresponding movement of the first lever about the first pivotal axis, said first lever being rockable relative to the member about a third pivotal axis, control means operable in response to predetermined pivotal movement of the first lever in at least one direction about the first pivotal axis, and means responsive to operation of the control means for varying the efiective length of the load-carrying unit.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the first, second and third pivotal axes are spaced apart and substantially parallel.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the second pivotal axis is intermediate the first and third pivotal axes.

8. A device according to claim 5 including adjustable means for varying the distance between the first and second pivotal axes.

9. A device according to claim 5 wherein the first, second and third pivotal axes lie in at least one generally horizontal plane and are spaced apart and substantially parallel and wherein the member is movable along a generally vertical path.

10. A device according to claim 9 including adjustable means connected to the first lever for varying the distance between the first and second pivotal axes.

11. In a device of the character described, a support unit, a load-carrying unit carried by the support unit and adapted to be coupled to a load, a first lever connected to and movable relative to the support unit about a first pivotal axis, a second lever connected to and movable relative to the first lever about a second pivotal axis, said second lever being engageable by a supporting structure and adapted to be subjected to the force exerted by the load, resilient means carried by and adapted to be subjected to and oppose said force, said resilient means including a member engaged by the first lever and movable in opposite directions in response to corresponding movement of the first lever about the first pivotal axis, said first lever being rockable relative to the member about a third pivotal axis, said second lever being movable relative to the supporting structure about a fourth pivotal axis, control means operable in response to predetermined pivotal movement of the first lever in at least one direction about the first pivotal axis, and means responsive to operation of the control means for varying the effective length of the load-carrying unit.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the first, second and third pivotal axes are spaced apart and substantially parallel.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the fourth pivotal axis extends in a direction which is generally normal to the direction of the other pivotal axes.

14. A device according to claim 12 wherein the second pivotal axis is intermediate the first and third pivotal axes.

15. A device according to claim 11 wherein the first, second and third pivotal axes lie in at least one generally horizontal plane and are spaced apart and substantially parallel, wherein the fourth pivotal axis lies in a generally horizontal plane and extends in a direction which is generally normal to the direction of the other pivotal axes, and wherein the member is movable along a generally vertical path.

16. A device according to claim 15 including adjustable means connected to the first lever for varying the distance between the first and second pivotal axes.

17. In a device of the character described, a support unit, a load-carrying unit carried by the support unit and adapted to be coupled to a load, a first lever connected to and movable relative to the support unit about a first pivotal axis, a second lever connected to and movable relative to the first lever about a second pivotal axis, said second lever being engageable by a supporting structure and adapted to be subjected to the force exerted by the load, resilient means carried by and adapted to be subjected to and oppose said force, said resilient means including a member engaged by the first lever and movable in opposite directions in response to corresponding movement of the first lever about the first pivotal axis, said first lever being rockable relative to the member about a third pivotal axis, said second lever being movable relative to the supporting structure about a fourth pivotal axis, electric switch means carried by the support unit and operable in response to predetermined movement of the first lever in at least one direction about the first pivotal axis, and means including an electric motor responsive to operation of the switch means for varying the effective length of the load-carrying unit.

18. In a device of the character described, a support unit, a load-carrying unit carried by the suppofl: unit and adapted to be coupled to a load, a first lever connected to and movable relative to the support unit about a first pivotal axis, a second lever connected to and movable relative to the first lever about a second pivotal axis, said second lever being engageable by a supporting structure and adapted to be subjected to the force exerted by the load, resilient means carried by and adapted to be subjected to and oppose said force, said resilient means including a member engaged by the first lever and movable in opposite directions in response to corresponding movement of the first lever about the first pivotal axis, said first lever being rockable relative to the member about a third pivotal axis, said second lever being movable relative to the supporting structure about a fourth pivotal axis, a pair of switches mounted on the support unit, switch actuating means carried by the first lever for operating each switch in response to predetermined movement of the first lever in a corresponding direction about the first pivotal axis, and means including a motor responsive to operation of one of the switches to increase the eifective length of the load-carrying unit and responsive to operation of the other switch to decrease the effective length of the load-carrying unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Zollinger Mar. 14, 1961 Zollinger Apr. 25, 1961 Zollinger July 25, 1961 

